Something about GuangZhou

When we thinking about the city in China. Well….Beijing is historical, Shanghai is modern, and Hongkong is International, even when talk about Sichuan we think of Panda. So, what is Guangzhou? “Modern”? - Not as Shanghai. “Fashion”? Not as Hong Kong. “Historical”? Not full story as Beijing.

Hmmm.......hard to figure out what to stand for even I’m 100% local. During the city development, GZ seems try to catch up to be a modern and international city, with many High-Rise Building came up these year. Demolished the old one and rebuilt them, shape a new face. Again and again. GZ should ask a question themselves for who really I am! Morden, fashion and international are not the whole story- these are the Point of Parity share with the other. We have to find the Differences to tell who we are and make it shine! And that is our local culture.  It is the local culture shaping who we are and tell apart from the others.

1. Cantonese? Or Mandarin?

When I speak Cantonese with some western people and the people from other provinces, they usually ask me whether I am from Hong Kong. Woow, that not cools at all, because not only Hong Kong can speak Cantonese!!!There still a city call "Canton", also known as "Guangzhou”, and the people there mainly speak Cantonese.

Why the other usual thinks the people can speak Cantonese are from Hong Kong, instead of Canton?

Yea, Guangzhou is not as famous as Hongkong, but that is not the whole.
In fact, Hong Kong they create Jyutping (Cantonese Pinyin) to develop the Cantonese. On the other hand, we have been taught Pinyin and speak Mandarin since in primary school. So, most of us use Mandarin as a tool to communicate with people from other provinces, even we not very good at it. :p

Here, language is kind of local culture, which is bound with local people and tells the different from other cities. In this case, Cantonese should be keep as local culture, cannot be eliminate.

2. YumCha.

"YumCha" is not only mean "drink the tea" in Cantonese, we seem as breakfast usually order with Dimsums. And this is my favourite!! Coz u can order different kind of delicious like Ha Gao and Siu Mia!!Yummy

Do we YumCha everyday? Nope. We like YumCha, but not go to YumCha every day except for the elder. Coz many of them are retired and usually get up earlier around 5-6 am. They usually buy a newspaper, order 1-2 Dim sums with a pot tea and then spend a morning there.

Share the table if no place available and talk to ea other, sometime meet with the friends occasionally in the Teahouse and chat for a while. We like this lively atmosphere :)

3. Qilou Building .

Qilou is a stylishly classic fusion of Eastern and Western architecture, Chinese arcade houses, seem as a cultural landmark in the coastal cities of South China date back to 19century.

The weather of Guangzhou is always changing. Qilou buildings, which are suitable for the unpredictable sub-tropical climate in Lingnan areas, and which also provides great convenience for the local people, once was the main form of architectural style in Guangzhou.

Most of the Qilou buildings in Guangzhou are three or four storied, with a protruding structure, or arcade, stretching above from the second storey over the sidewalk. These arcades are linked together by the side of the street, forming a shaded corridor, which keeps the shops along the sidewalk as well as the pedestrians safe from the scorching sun and rain.

But nowadays with the development of modernization, many of this historical building were demolished or going to demolish. This is a pity coz this building is full of our memory as a local. Some has gone and some are said to be “rebuilt" but who know? In fact no one care, the truth is these demolish will erase the memory of one - two generation. Moreover, some of them are worth to retain! :(

Here, GOELIA renovated the building on Beijing Road No.225 .They integrated the element of fashion, travel and art together and retain the appearance of original as much as possible.

They did a good job and I hope this is not the one!

So, Here i talk about  language , food and building >> more local cultures of Canton are to be continue.


Thankyou for reading .
PS: all of these are my personal opinion of local culture, not repersent my political stance.If anyone feeling antipathy, i m  sorry about that.




Cheer
Cwing